A big chance to move into the top half and make it three wins on the bounce was spurned at St James’ Park as our Tuesday night clash with Spurs ended 2-2.
After taking the lead twice in a mad second half, first through a brilliant Bruno Guimaraes strike and again via an Anthony Gordon penalty, a Cristian Romero brace and a 95th-minute equaliser saw us throw away points at the death once again on Tyneside.
Newcastle have now dropped 11 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, with a painful end to a game we really should have won made even worse when you consider our dominant first half and the soft nature of Romero’s scrappy second, which Aaron Ramsdale will not want to see again,
The result sees us move up to 13th, leapfrogging only Bournemouth after their loss tonight, but risks us losing further ground on the likes of Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa, who all have winnable games over the next 48 hours.
Howe made two changes from Saturday, seeing Bruno Guimaraes get a rare rest and Anthony Elanga drop out to make way for the return of Sandro Tonali and Jacob Murphy.
Newcastle XI: Ramsdale – Livramento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall – Miley, Joelinton, Tonali – Murphy, Woltemade, Barnes
Subs: Ruddy, Schar, Guimaraes, Gordon, Elanga, Willock, A.Murphy, Ramsey, Neave
Spurs XI: Vicario – Porro, Romero, Danso, Udogie -Bentancur, Sarr, Bergvall – Kudus, Johnson, Kolo-Muani
Newcastle 2-2 Spurs – Match report
The first half was dominant in nearly every metric but the scoreline, as we barely let Spurs out their own half for the first 30 minutes, saw a Hall masterclass at left-back, won so many duels and went closest through Joelinton’s low shot off the post.
Hall and Miley had efforts saved, Woltemade headed over and we were constantly forcing them back, but did have two scares from nowhere as Hall stopped what would’ve been a Kudus tap in and Bergvall flicked over.
One criticism was our set piece delivery, which was consistently poor, with Tonali failing to beat the first man a few too many times and Hall not doing much better in what was otherwise a superb first half display from our marauding wing back.
Heading into the second 45, Howe made one change as Bruno came on for Tonali, with the Brazilian moving to that holding role as we attacked the Gallowgate end.
We came close again through Barnes and efforts from Woltemade and Tino that were stopped on the line, then changes came just after the hour mark as Gordon and Elanga replaced Barnes and Murphy.
After that, the chaos commenced in a crazy final 30 minutes, starting with a moment of magic from Bruno to curl into the far corner, sending us 1-0 up and St James’ wild; but not for long as a Kudus cross and clever Romero header drew Spurs level within 10 minutes of our opener.
A soft foul on Burn won us a penalty thanks to VAR intervention which Gordon converted emphatically, making so many on Tyneside believe THAT was the goal to secure the win. However, we sat deep too soon, saw so many sloppy giveaways from Burn and Joelinton, and then paid the price deep into nine minutes of stoppage time as Romero scored again…somehow.
It was an impressive overhead kick in some ways, but how Ramsdale doesn’t react quick enough to stop what was a weak shot (albeit through a few bodies) is beyond me, ensuring two points dropped as we failed to control or see out a chaotic second half that we took the lead in twice.
The standout performer was Hall, who did tire towards the end but offered so much own our left, winning battle against Kudus early on, getting out of tight spaces with ease and playing some lovely balls down the line, but it was a Jekyll and Hyde display from others, with Joelinton a prime suspect, as his strong first half showing turned into a second half stinker.
Next up, we welcome second bottom Burnley to St James’ Park on Saturday before away games at Bayer Leverkusen and Sunderland next week.
Keep the faith!
They didn’t just throw it away the win, they should have lost all three. Terrible (2nd) call by the ref to grant a penalty kick based off that bit of tussling in front of goal.
Merrick(Quote)
No words can express how fuming I am that we threw that away.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Can’t agree, he was not even looking at the ball, he was gonna bring down Burn and prevent him getting on the end of it and got caught. Too much of this goes on inside boxes at corners and too many get away with it.
Thought we were by far the better side but we must learn to close out games and stop dropping back so deep. Oh and where the h ell did 9 mins added time come from ?
kimtoon(Quote)
for me he keeper should have saved both goals poor show imo,nee use controlof game if you cannot stick the ball in the net,Barnes back to his normal game after showing in the last couple of games,sell him in jan imo
icedog(Quote)
Ice – I agree mate. I know everyone is calling for Pope to be dropped and I understand – he’s not been great.
But, I don’t know what Ramsdale has ever done for people to believe he’s the answer. He wasn’t good enough for Arsenal and he was awful at Southampton.
He can pass a ball when he has time on it and isn’t a terrible keeper – but is he head and shoulders above Pope – not imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I love Eddie & have defended him when others wanted him gone during the international break.
But that’s 11 points lost now from winning positions – and that’s alarming.
We were 2-1 up with 10 mins to play last night and he again made a substitution to try and shut up shop.
He brought Schar on and took Miley off and I think this was a poor decision – a bit desperate if I’m honest.
In doing so it caused confusion in our defence. This was so apparent in that second goal. If you watch it back he’s running round like a headless chicken.
It was chaotic and didn’t need to be.
It was also a substitution that would have encouraged Spurs on to us.
If Mileys legs had gone then he should have put Willock or Ramsey on to pack the midfield – it would have also given us an offensive option on the counter attack.
11 points dropped is a lot already. Half that and we’d be top 4.
Sharpy17(Quote)
SHARPY aye mate Howe stuffed up in this one Bruno fairly kick off after the game about the defence poor display he’s dead right,and keeper getting beat on near post for first one was shameful
Icedog(Quote)
I don’t think Ramsdale or Pope are the answer, both have qualities the other doesn’t, we need a combo of the two. Pope is a good shot stopper but cannot kick or pass well and is allergic to catching lately, preferring to punch and hope ! He makes me a nervous wreck at times. Ramsdale at fault last night but not sure why Eddie bought on schar so late in game it just unsettled us.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim totally 100% agree to me a good keeper is one of the most important guys on the pitch,you can score goals at one end but if you got a doe-heed at the other end what’s the point imo
Icedog(Quote)
I suppose its because it hurts and it keeps happening that everyone is looking for the reason’
It has to be a combination of more than one of the valid reasons put forward on here.
So here is another that no one has mentioned. What is the captains job? he should be the managers voice on the pitch. not waving at the supporters to get them to shout louder!
The supporters have always done a great job! Its the players that need to be shouted at encouraged, instructed, and even bullied. They are grown men and should behave as such and take some responsibility.
nutmag(Quote)
Captain carried us in that second half. If that result is on anyone, it’s not Bruno. As for the crowd/supporters our atmosphere has been woeful for the most part for years now.
Scott(Quote)
Kim/Ice – what annoys me about the keeper situation is we spent so long messing round with Trafford offering a reported £30m ball park figure.
In the meantime Brentford go get Kelleher from Liverpool for £15m who would have been my first choice.
Instead we spend £4m loaning a keeper than has spent most of his time sat on the bench and Howe plays Pope anyway
Sharpy17(Quote)
Scott I did do not doubt in any way his football skills we are lucky to have him. Being a captain is a whole different matter all together.
nutmag(Quote)
I do not! type o
nutmag(Quote)
Yeah its all very odd.
kimtoon(Quote)
Mackems are flying! A draw with Liverpool at Anfield is impressive. The Derby is going to be very difficult and proper tasty!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I don’t see a win and I could see red cards too if Joe or Bruno get too wound up. I hate the Derby always have.
kimtoon(Quote)
KIM i hate derbys as well,never a true picture of what is going on in the PL imo
icedog(Quote)
Aye spot on.
kimtoon(Quote)